West Asia News and Discussions

[A_Gupta]

^^^^ We are told: “ IRIS Dena, an Iranian Moudge-class frigate, is designed with anti-ship missiles. While it typically carries such weapons for patrols, it did not carry these missiles to the MILAN 2026 exercise in Visakhapatnam, India, because the exercise protocol prohibited participating ships from carrying ammunition.”

[Vayutuvan]

It should be, and is, easy to verify.

[uddu]

^^^^ We are told: “ IRIS Dena, an Iranian Moudge-class frigate, is designed with anti-ship missiles. While it typically carries such weapons for patrols, it did not carry these missiles to the MILAN 2026 exercise in Visakhapatnam, India, because the exercise protocol prohibited participating ships from carrying ammunition.”

Doubt this. Surface firing is there. It could be gun firing. The other ones mentioned like Anti Submarine etc could be simulated attacks which may not require weapon firing.
https://www.ifrmilan26.com/custom/milan-sea-phase
The MILAN Sea Phase held from 21 to 25 February 2026 was the dynamic and operationally significant segment of MILAN 26. Conducted in the Bay of Bengal, off Visakhapatnam, this phase involves maritime operations, formation manoeuvres and various aspects of naval warfare, aimed at strengthening interoperability among participating navies. Key activities included Surface Firings, Anti Air & Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercises, Cross Deck Helicopter Operations and Aircraft Carrier Operations. This Sea Phase of MILAN 26 aimed to build professionalism, enhance mutual trust and create collective capability to uphold maritime safety and security.

[uddu]

I don't think we realise what a potential threat 3 Iranian warships (not just the IRIS Dena) were:

They were sitting astride a major shipping lane (from the Mallaca strait to the middle East) where they could interdict merchant shipping - US supply ships.
The Dena has long range anti ship missiles.
The Lavan was a landing ship modified to carry long range drones. (imagine a strike on Diego Garcia knocking out a bunch of B-52s).
They would presumably get targeting info from Chinese satellites.
The Lavan is now interred in Kochi and the Bhisher in Sri Lanka.

The Bhusher was a supply ship possibly for the Dena and Lavan.
What were three ships (a large part of Iran's active surface fleet) doing so far from home ? Was IFR India an excuse to get them close to a major
shipping line and Diego Garcia ?
The Dena was their most modern ship, I doubt it was used for training.

Very much possible. The Iranian's must have tried to do the hunt for American ships or target U.S interests and somehow came to know about the sub which they could not track (Russian's or Chinese sharing info?) and worried sought refuge in Sri Lanka. The Initial public knowledge was that of a single warship around Sri Lanka that was sunk and now more and more Iranian Warships are seeking refuge from the same area.
There is an animation for visualization.
US Navy & Submarine Destroyed Iran's Fleet | Explained

[A_Gupta]

^^^ Live firing in such exercises is likely done with dummy ammunition. (Inert/Training Rounds: Used to simulate the weight and handling of live ammunition without the explosive risk.)